Similar Games

Overview

Mortal Kombat II is a fighting game created bt Midway that released in February 1993. It is the first sequel to the original Mortal Kombat, released 10 months earlier. Home versions hit the market on “Mortal Friday” September 10, 1993 for the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, Nintendo Game Boy, and Sega Game Gear. The Nintendo version of the original Mortal Kombat was criticized for its lack of blood, so blood was included in the SNES version of MKII. It was featured in the launch library for the Sega 32X when it launched in November 1994. A version for the Amiga was released in late-1994 as well. Rare versions of the game were released for the Sony PlayStation, PC, and Sega Saturn were released in 1996.

Storyline

Outworld Emperor Shao Kahn

After being defeated in the tournament that would have opened the dimensional gates from Earth to the Outworld with one more victory, Shang Tsung shamefully returned to Outworld to face the wrath of the emperor, Shao Kahn. As Kahn is mulling Tsung's execution for his loss and the apparent death of Goro, he convinces Kahn to grant him a second chance and Kahn restores his youth. The new plan is to lure the warriors of Earth to fight in a phony tournament in Outworld, where they are to be assuredly killed by Kahn himself. Tsung’s plan allows his personal bodyguard, Reptile, to step out of the shadows and publicly compete. In an effort to replace Goro, Kahn recruits another Shokan beast, Kintaro.

After returning home from saving the realm of Earth via his victory over Shang Tsung, Liu Kang finds his home in ruins and his Shaolin brothers murdered by a fierce group of Outworld warriors led by Baraka, a general in Shao Kahn’s army. The Elder God, Raiden, pulls aside Kang and Johnny Cage to warn them of Kahn’s evil intentions. Shortly afterward, Raiden travels into the Outworld by himself. Kang soon follows for revenge against Kahn. Kung Lao, the ancestor of a former Grand Champion and a fellow White Lotus Society member, accompanies Kang in his quest. Cage follows an unknowing Kang into Outworld to assist him.

Originally thought to have been killed byScorpion in the first tournament, Sub-Zero shockingly reappears and continues his mission in Outworld to assassinate Shang Tsung, whom his Lin Kuei ninja clan still has marked for death. When Scorpion learns that Sub-Zero is still alive, he follows him into Outworld to continue his quest for vengeance.

Kitana, the personal assassin for Shao Kahn, enters the tournament. However, her motives are unclear as her twin sister, Mileena, has spotted her talking to an undisclosed Earth warrior and reported this to Kahn. He instructs Mileena to keep her eyes open for any alignment she may show toward the Earth’s warriors.

Maj. Jackson Briggs finds his way into Outworld after receiving a distress signal from fellow U.S. Special Forces colleague and friend, Lt. Sonya Blade. Jax presses on, believing Sonya is still alive.

Gameplay

MKII’s gameplay is an expansion of the gameplay created in the first game. Not many significant elements were added; it mostly consists of improvements. The game moves a bit faster and a lot smoother than the original game. Roundhouse kicks were made more powerful and now launch opponents in the air like an uppercut. A generic crouching punch move was added for all characters.

The most significant addition is the expansive nature of the famous Fatality. Each character now has a set of at least two fatalities. Also added were new finishing moves called Friendships and Babalities. These purposely less-serious finishing moves were added in as a response to the media backlash the original game received for its excessive violence and gore. These moves could be performed only if the opponent did not press high punch and low punch in their second winning round. There are now three arena-specific fatalities that can be performed. Unlike the last game, Arena Fatalities now required a specific button input much like other finishing moves. The Dead Pool button input was the same for every character, but the other two (Kombat Tomb and Pit II) were different with each character.

Liu Kang's Dragon Fatality

Kano and Sonya do not return in this game, but are featured bound by chains in the background of Shao Kahn’s Arena. Reptile and Shang Tsung are now playable characters. Tsung retains his ability to morph into any character. Five brand new characters made their debuts as playable characters: Kung Lao, Kitana, Jax, Mileena, and Baraka. Two more new characters debut as unlockable opponents: Jade and Smoke.